Details of our SDR Procedure 

Different surgical techniques are utilized to perform SDR. Neurosurgeons typically perform SDR after removing the lamina ( laminectomy ) from 5-7 vertebrae. That technique was also used at the St. Louis Children's Hospital Cerebral Palsy Center to perform SDR on over 140 children with CP. However, we were concerned about possible problems that can arise from removal of such a large amount of bone from the spine. Additionally, because of the extensive removal of the bone, we could not offer SDR to children with weak trunk muscles or to adults. 

In 1991, we developed a less invasive surgical technique, which requires removal of the lamina from only 1-2 vertebrae. We refined the technique further and currently remove the lamina from a single lumbar vertebra (Figure A&B).  

SDR begins with a 1- to 2-inch incision along the center of the lower back just above the waist. Thespinous processes and a portion of the lamina are removed to expose the spinal cord and spinal nerves. Ultrasound and an x-ray locate the tip of the spinal cord, where there is a natural separation between sensory and motor nerves. A rubber pad is placed to separate the motor from the sensory nerves. The sensory nerve roots that will be tested and cut are placed on top of the pad and the motor nerves beneath the pad, away from the operative field.

After the sensory nerves are exposed, each sensory nerve root is divided into 3-5 rootlets. Each rootlet is tested with EMG, which records electrical patterns in muscles. Rootlets are ranked from 1 (mild) to 4 (severe) for spasticity. The severely abnormal rootlets are cut. This technique is repeated for rootlets between spinal nerves L2 and S2. Half of the L1 dorsal root fibers are cut without EMG testing.

When testing and cutting are complete, the dura mater is closed, and fentanyl is given to bathe the sensory nerves directly. The other layers of tissue, muscle, fascia, and subcutaneoustissue are sewn. The skin is closed with glue. There are no stitches to be removed from the back. Surgery takes approximately 4 hours. The patient goes to the recovery room for 1-2 hours before being transferred to the intensive care unit overnight.

Advantages of our SDR Technique Over Other Techniques 

We believe that our selective dorsal rhizotomy procedure has these significant advantages over others:

1. Reduced risk of spinal deformities in later years
2. Decreased post-rhizotomy motor weakness
3. Reduced hip flexor spasticity by sectioning the first lumbar dorsal root
4. Shorter-term, less intense back pain
5. Earlier resumption of vigorous physical therapy

SDR Possible Complications 

The dorsal rhizotomy is a long and complex neurosurgical procedure. As in other major neurosurgical procedures, it presents some risks. Paralysis of the legs and bladder, impotence, and sensory loss are the most serious complications. Wound infection and meningitis are also possible, but they are usually controlled with antibiotics. Leakage of the spinal fluid through the wound is another risk.

Abnormal sensitivity of the skin on the feet and legs is relatively common after SDR, but usually resolves within 6 weeks. There is no way to prevent the abnormal sensitivity in the feet. Transient change in bladder control may occur, but this also resolves within a few weeks. A few of our patients have experienced urinary tract infections and pneumonia.

Complications in our SDR Patients

In our more than 2,000 selective dorsal rhizotomy patients, only one adult patient had a spinal fluid leak that required surgical repair. A few children had spinal fluid collection under the skin but no surgery was needed. One patient developed anugulation of the spine (kyphosis) that required spine fusion. There was no long-term complications in any of patients who underwent surgery as early as 1987. Our results indicate the long-term safety of selective dorsal rhizotomy.

Outcome of Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy 

Spasticity: At present, SDR is the only surgical procedure that can provide permanent reduction of spasticity in CP. In our patients with spastic diplegia SDR always reduced spasticity, and recurrences have been rare. Return of spasticity in later years is highly unlikely after its reduction over many years.

In patients with spastic quadriplegia, however, SDR can fail to reduce spasticity. Recurrence of spasticity is relatively common in severely involved nonambulatory patients with spastic quadriplegia. In patients who can walk with an assistive device, the risk for recurrent spasticity is less than in nonambulatory patients, and even if it does recur, it is less severe than before the operation.

It is our opinion that patients with cerebral palsy do not depend on spasticity for any activities. Their case is different from that of patients with spasticity associated with spinal cord injury, in whom the spasticity sometimes does help with standing and taking steps.

Strength: SDR does not cause permanent weakness. However, patients will experience transient motor weakness that may last a few weeks to months after SDR. It should be remembered that a varying degree of motor weakness is always present in cerebral palsy. When spasticity is reduced or eliminated, the motor weakness underlying spasticity becomes more noticeable, but the impression that SDR produces motor weakness is incorrect.

Patients who walk independently always resume independent walking within a few weeks after SDR. Patients who walk with crutches will also resume crutch walking within several weeks after SDR. Patients who walk well with a walker prior to selective dorsal rhizotomy resume assisted walking within several weeks. Patients who use a walker and assistance require much longer to resume the level of walking they were capable of before SDR.

After spasticity is reduced, it becomes easier for patients to increase strength with therapy and exercise. Adolescents and adults can start treadmill and other types of exercise that were impossible before SDR.

It is important to note that selective dorsal rhizotomy does not result in floppy extremities, even immediately after the operation.

Motor Function: SDR results in improvements in sitting, standing, walking, and balance control in walking. In three randomized studies of changes in gross motor functions after SDR, two of the studies showed improvements and one did not find significant benefits from SDR. All three studies are, however, far short of conclusive. They assessed outcomes using measures of gross motor function, which do not allow assessment of changes in quality of motor functions or of children whose impairment is relatively mild. Also, the follow-up studies of these patients were too short to address the long-term benefits of SDR, the effects of reduced spasticity on deformities, and the need for orthopaedic surgery. In our view, the study by McLaughlin et al., which failed to find any beneficial effect from SDR, is flawed by various limitations, so no conclusion can be drawn from it.

Typically, improvements in motor function are most noticeable during the first 6 months after SDR. After that, improvements are slow but steady. In children, these improvements can continue up to 10 years of age. In adults and adolescents, improvements continue for approximately 2 years after SDR.

Deformities: Patients with cerebral palsy almost invariably have some deformities in the lower extremities. Common deformities are hip subluxation, hamstring and heel cord contractures,foot deformities, and in-toeing. These deformities can be improved by selective dorsal rhizotomy.

Hip subluxation can progress if left untreated. In most patients, selective dorsal rhizotomy can halt the progression; certainly it does not exacerbate or increase the risk of hip subluxation. However, some children under 5 years of age who have poorly developed hip joints do show progression of hip subluxation regardless of treatment.

Selective dorsal rhizotomy reduces the severity of hamstring and heel cord contractures. It is common to see improvements in in-toeing gait and in other abnormal gait patterns after SDR. Also, the lack of spasticity makes it easy to stretch the tight muscles. When contractures have been present for years, however, the affected muscles and tendons are shortened. It takes many months to improve such contractures, and in older children and adults, it is often impossible to do so except through surgical release.

Early selective dorsal rhizotomy, at 2-4 years of age, can prevent the development of deformities. For this reason, we favor early surgery. Also, SDR will reduce deformities and makes it easier to treat deformities later with orthopaedic surgery.

Orthopedic Surgery: Many patients with spastic cerebral palsy require multiple orthopaedic operations. Our study showed that early SDR may reduce the rate of subsequent orthopedic procedures. It is important to remember that deformities are due not only to spasticity but also to motor impairment and consequent limited muscle stretching in daily activities. That is, muscles without spasticity can still develop contractures if they are not used and stretched fully. Therefore, many patients will still require follow-up with orthopaedic surgeons after SDR.

We favor SDR prior to orthopaedic surgery. Muscle and tendon release procedures increase a range of joint movements but weaken the muscles permanently. Since SDR can increase the range of joint movement without causing muscle weakness, we recommend SDR prior to muscle releases. Persistent muscle and tendon contractures after SDR are treated with vigorous stretching, night splints, and serial casting. If all the nonsurgical treatments fail to resolve the contractures, we recommend orthopedic surgery as a last resort.

Upper Extremity Functions: Selective dorsal rhizotomy is performed to improve the lower extremity functions, but it can also improve the gross range of motion of the upper extremities. It does not improve fine motor skills. The upper extremity improvements are seen in children with relatively severe quadriplegic cerebral palsy. If the upper extremity involvement is mild, SDR will not result in noticeable improvements.

Potty Training: Spastic cerebral palsy can be associated with small bladder capacity and also with difficulties in sitting, which can delay potty training in young children. From time to time, we have seen children complete potty training soon after selective dorsal rhizotomy.

Cognitive Improvements: We have seen children who showed marked changes in cognitive functions after SDR, and in our earlier study we found significant increase in the speed of visual recognition.

Speech Improvement: Selective dorsal rhizotomy can be followed by significant improvements of speech. We attribute this to improved sitting posture, reduced distraction by spasticity, and improved cognitive functions. However, it is difficult to predict which patients will show speech improvements.

Emotional Improvements: Parents often note that their children become much less irritable and more loving after selective dorsal rhizotomy. We attribute this to decreased mental distraction by tight muscles.